Student Representatives

We have exciting opportunities for all students who seek to have an active role in the Society. We are currently looking for student representatives in each university/polytech (if there is more than one institution per city we will choose one representative per city)! We hope that each student representative will contribute to having a more active student community with regular exchange of ideas and experiences between the students themselves and also between the students and other members of the Society. A student representative is encouraged to organize regular meetings of student members in their region and organize bird watching trips or other activities. They are also encouraged to visit the annual conference and meet with the other represetatives.

Our current Student Representatives are:

Lotte van GinkelI am a student at Massey University. I study a major in Zoology with a minor in Statistics and want to specialise in Ornithology. I have always been passionate about birds. Hand-rearing birds, rescue, release and observing birds on behalf of the OSNZ, SPCA and a local vet have been some of my activities. I have also studied a Companion Animal Services Certificate for birds through school, and worked at Natureland Zoo for 3 years. As Student Representative I will be able to teach more people about these amazing creatures and the environment they live in, as well as expand my own knowledge to help me follow my dream of becoming an Ornithologist.

Craig SimpkinsI am a PhD candidate at the University of Auckland. The research for my thesis explores how landscape level connectivity is evaluated. I have been involved to differing degrees on a number of avian research projects, including studies on whio or blue duck, kaka, kea and a number of petrel species. I love being able to participate in avian research as it feeds into my great love of birds and I am hopeful that I will be able to facilitate further research with the help of Birds New Zealand.

How to become a Student Representative

If you are interested in becoming a student representative send Helen an email with some information about which university you are attending, what you are studying and why you would like to become a student representative. Student representatives have to be members of Birds NZ.